Automatic hat former



March 8, 1949. H. F. FITCH 2,463,759

AUTOMATIC HAT FORMER Filed Dec. 11, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l INV NT R g ATTORNEYS,

March 8; 1 949. H. F. FITCH 2,463,759

AUTOMATIC HAT FORMER, v

Filed Dec. 11, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY5 March 8, 1949. H. F. FITCH 2,463,759

AUTOMATIC HAT FORMER Filed Dec 11, 1945 4 Shee tSFSheet 5 March 8, 1949. I H. F. FITCH 2,463,759

AUTOMATIC HAT FORMER Filed Dec 11, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ywyw ATTORN EY5,

Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UiNil PATENT 19F Fil -C E AUTOMATIC HA I FORMER HerberttRfiitch, Nor-walk, "Conn.

Applica'tionDeceniber 11, 19a5,:Serial No.;63.4,200

- lll Ciaims. 1 t

' This 'invention're1'ates"to "mechanism forforming felt hats, and has fiior'an object to provide a device which -will automatically perform the various "operations necessary in forming "a "hat body, in the "proper sequence;

It "is "also'an "object to "provide a 11211; former in which the hat is formed upside-down, 'as "distinguis'he'd from the usual practice --of forming it in the upright "position.

Further objects "areto-provide means for automatically 'removing the formed hat 'body from the cone without removing the conefr'om *the former, :to "reduce handling "of the formed hat body and therefore reducing *breakage, and to reduce *variation in'the lay -of*the fur on the cone "and thus produce "a body of more uniform thickness.

With'the foregoing and other "objects 'in*view, I "have "devised the construction 2 illustratedm the accompanying drawing "forming a part =o'f this specification. It' 'is, however, to-be understood the device is not limited *to *the --specific details of constructionandarrangement"shownfibut may embody "various changes and modifications Within the scope ofthe-inven'ti'on.

In" these 1 drawings:

*Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section and partialeide elevation' oi the mac'hine shown somewhat diagrammatically, *the' p'arts being -sh'own in position 'just after-the spray to'the formed-cone has been'cut ofi;

'Fig, 2 is an 'end' =v'iew of the feeder portion o'f the devi'ce looking from the'rig-ht *of' Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is'a section -'-through .the former showing the spray devic'e;

Fig; 4- is=a section through the former-"showing thehat' b'ody receiver;

Fig, --isa detail =section J of the mounting f'or the spraying "mechanism for-the receiver;

Fig. 6*is a vertical sectionof 'the iormer'tshown diagrammatically) and sectionsshowing position of the related devices-during "the hat forming operation;

Fig. '7 is as'imil'ar view showinythe-pos'itions of the related devices i during the spraying operation;

Fig. 8 is a "similar =view showing-the devices in position for removing the formed bodyfrom the cone, and

:Fig. 9' is a section indicating thetype of automatic control for the various operations.

As above "suggested, this device performs all the operations diformin'g the -hatbo-dy "automatically, iin 'the 'proper sequence, "and-incomprises "a former f andafeederll for ieeding the fur .to "the former. 'Thisfomer'includes a casing T2 'in "which is mounted a perforated forming cone I13, but inthis casethe "cone is mounted in the invertedposition, as in'dicated, instead of in the usual upright position. DuringtheTorming operation it is rotated about its vertical axis'by any 'suitable mechanism, indicated diagrammatically at M, and the-interior o'f the' 'cone is con- 'necte'd' with the"usua1-si1ction pipe I5 leading to a suction fan I 6 driven constantly by any-suitable means, not shown. Inthe -=suction pipe -is :a control valve -=or-damper t which is vcontrolle'd automatically :by "suitable mechanism. inmthe present case it" is shown. diagrammatically era's Joperated :by -a flui'd mressure piston t8. .The iinlet to the :former indicated "at [9118 the'outlet nr discharge :iromnthe breeder Iil. This ieederwmay :be iof :any suitabletype but is zpreferably-ssimilar to 'thata'di'sc-losed in'my prior Patent No. 1;598g429, issued August 31, 11926. This feeder "comprises .a feed. apron orconveyor 20 leading to a pair of feed rolls 2li'fori-a picker %22-at*.thelower end of a chute i23-leading .to the aforaminous drum =24. fl-hisumayzbea wire :mesh drum :and is of suitable size 1 aretain on about one-half of its surface the necessary amou-nt-of fur forcne hat body. At'the opposite side .of thisidrum from the inlet v23'isa transfer-roll or cylinder :25 fortransferring fur from this drum to the feed rollerslfi of ,a picker: 21 "in front of l a; drum 2-81 for throwing fur fromthe picker through the irilet LQ-toitheiormer. The two pickers 22 and flare-operated continuously hut theconveyor L2H andthe drum 124 are operated alternately, andeach-iis stationary while the other .is operating.

} Thisdevice may 'beidriven from lanysuitahle meana'but is shown .as driven tfromla m'ain'drive shaftfi29 drivenkbyia suitable motor'fiil through a suitablelheltldrive 3!. 'On theshaftlis a suitable pulley 32 for driving the two pickers 122 and21 throughsnitable be'lt drives 33,,234 and 35. Also on the shaft is vaipulleyifli for drivin 'th'e feed apron "20 through a suitable rbelt "drive 31, "and another pulley 38 on the main shaft 'drives' the drum '24 through thebelt 39 to ashort shaft lfl, and a belt "'41 "to'th'e shaftflfor thetransfer roll'*25. There is a drive "'43 from this shaft to a pulley or sprocket 44 for driving the "drum 2'4, and there "is also a drive from the -'shaft 'o'f 'this drum by apdlley-Wfithrough a belt 6 11031 001117.1 01 disc '41. This drive 46 "is so proportioned that the control disc =41 will *make one revolution 101 about two-thirds revolution of the drum 24. This disc I-T has in its periphery a notch 48 to:receive at certain timesthempper end o'f ca control lr'od fi'il mounted to slide vertically in suitable guides 50. At its lower end this rod rests on a lever arm 5| on a shaft 52 carrying a forked lever 53 connected to a sliding rod 54 connected by an arm 55 to a pair of clutch cones 56 and 51. These cones are splined to slide longitudinally on the main drive shaft 29 and are adapted to engage similar internal cones on the pulleys 38 and 36 respectively for driving these pulleys at the proper time, the pulleys being otherwise loose on the shaft. A suitable spring 58 tends to shift the rod 54 and the parts connected therewith to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 and retain the cone 51 in engagement with the pulley 36.

On the vertical slidable rod 49 is an arm 59 leading to a piston 60 operated at the proper time by suitable fluid pressure to draw the rod 49 downwardly, as will presently be described. Also mounted on the rod 49 is a trip lug 6I adapted to engage a trip lever 62 for operating an electric switch 63. This switch is a control switch for the control of timing motor 64 connected to the switch 63 through any suitable leads 65 and a source of supply current, not shown, at 66. This motor operates a timing or control mechanism 61. This comprises a series of cams for controlling either a series of air or fluid pressure control valves or a series of electric control switches. In the present case it is shown as operating a series of air valves to control various devices for controlling the forming operations, but it will be understood if electric controls are used there would be electric switches or operating means for them. As indicated, the motor 64 through a suitable drive 68 operates a shaft 51 69 on which are a series of cams, one of which is shown at 10 in Fig. 9, of any suitable shape to operate through a follower rod H, a control valve 12 controlling the supply of air at given times through a suitable supply pipe 13 from any suitable source of air pressure, not shown, through connecting pipes 14 and 15 to various mechanisms. Fig. 9 happens to be the valve control 12 for piston 16, but it will be understood this is shown merely as an example, to illustrate the type of control used and that there will be a similar cam on shaft 69 for each of the other control valves and each shaped according to the operation desired for its particular valve and the device controlled by it. The follower H is kept against the cam and the valve is operated in one direction by a spring 1Ia.

As shown in Fig. 1, the valve 12 is connected by pipes 14 and 15 with the cylinder of a piston 16 operating an automatically controlled sprayer 11 which may be moved through an opening 18 in the side of the former casing or housing I2 to a position adjacent the cone I3'for spraying the body formed on the cone at given times, as will presently be described. This may be any suitable type of sprayer, but is preferably flat, of a width of six or eight inches, and provided with a series of fine openings 19 for a fine spray supplied through the pipes and BI from a suitable source of supply, not shown, and controlled by the valve 82 of the control device 61, pipe 8| being connected to the pipe 80 by a flexible connection 83 to permit in and out movements of the sprayer 11. A drip pan or catcher 84 is preferably provided under the sprayer to catch any drip from the sprayer and it is mounted on the pipe 80 to move with the sprayer. The opening 18 in the former housing I2 is closed during the forming operation by a door 85 which is operated automatically by movements of the sprayer 11, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 3. This door or closure is mounted to slide to and from a position over the opening 18 by any suitable mechanism operated by movements of the sprayer 11. That shown comprises a bell crank lever 86 pivoted at 81, one arm 88 of which is connected to the door by a link 89 and the other arm 90 is connected to the supply pipe 80 by a link 9I. As the sprayer is moved toward the opening by the piston 16 the connection will slide the door or closure from the opening to the dotted line position, permitting the sprayer to move into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 7 adjacent the former cone I3. Movement in the opposite direction will cause the door to close so that the door opening is closed during the forming operation and when the suction is on the cone I3.

The draft or suction in the pipe I5 is controlled by the damper I1 and the piston I8. The operation of this piston is controlled by the valve 92 from a suitable cam on the shaft 69 through the supply pipes 93. Within the top of the cone I3 is a perforated air blast pipe 94 which is connected by a pipe 95 through the control valve 96 with the source of supply, not shown, this valve being also controlled by a suitable cam on the shaft 69. This air blast is used to loosen the formed hat body on the cone I3 at the proper time, so that it will drop off of the cone by its own weight. The piston 60 operating the control rod 49 of the feeder is controlled by the valve 91 through the pipe 98, this valve also being controlled by a suitable cam on the shaft 69.

Means is provided for catching the hat body as it drops from the cone I3. This is the receiver 99 which during the forming operation is outside the former I 0, but after the hat body has been properly formed and is ready for removal,

I it is shifted to a position in the former under the cone I3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. Its motion to and from this position is controlled by piston I00 controlled from the control device 61 by a valve IOI, which, like the other valves, is controlled by a suitable cam on the shaft 69, suitable pipes I02 connecting this valve with the cylinder of the piston I00. The receiver disc or plate 99 is mounted on a pivot arm I02 pivoted on a suitable support I 03 so as to swing to carry the receiver 99 through the opening I04 in the former housing I2 to and from its position under the former cone I3. The arm I02 is on a shaft pivoted in the support I03 which is connected to the piston I00 by a flexible strap I05. A coiled spring I06 tends to swing the arm I02 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, or that is, to maintain the receiver 99 in the full line position of this figure, outside the former. If pressure is applied to the piston I 00 it will be shifted to the right in Fig. 1 and unwind the strap I05 from the shaft, thus swinging the receiver 99 through the opening I04 to the dotted line position under the cone I3. When the pressure is released from the piston, or the piston is operated in the opposite direction, spring I06 will swing the receiver 99 outwardly through this opening so that any hat body, indicated at I01, which may have been dropped from the former cone I3 onto this receiver, may be removed by the operator. The closure I08 for the opening I 04 is connected with this arm I02 so as to be operated automatically on operation of the receiver. In the arrangement shown, the closure is pivoted at I09 and is connected by an arm IIO through a link III with the rod I02 so that as the receiver 99 is swung The rpmper :amount of furxtor .a hat had Qbeen placedsby the weigher on this apron, .andtisvthus 'iedibyiit tothe picker ;.22;an-d blown .by thepicker onto lthe rdruml'M. During this time the .i switch 83 us close dya'so rthatixthe control :motor 64 is .:operating. lnt-pompletionphthe transfer-f the fur on zthei apron: an 'to the drum :24 thescontrol .valve 91 soperates to operatev the piston 1 6.0 :to draw the COHTUIDIPIO 14 49 downwardly. .This opens the switch 63, stopping the motor 64, andit also-removes the P11121381 end vof :the rod 24.9 from the notch in the :di-sc .41. .At the same time this .movement of vthe .roid operates :the lever 5|, it shifts the clutohsmembers E and;51-to the left,.as:shown in .-.-Fig. 2, shifting .cone .51 .away from the pulley 3B,.andthusstops operation of the apron '20,:hut itrm'ovesathe.aclutchvSfi into engagement with-the pulley 3.3.8 and starts operation of the drum .24. The disc t4! rotates with .the drum .24 through the-idrive :4B,.and as soon ,asthedisc 4.! .starts to rotate *thempper end =.of and 4.9 restsagainst the rim .of :this .disc and thus ethe :rod 49 .is held in itstlowerzpositionby .the disc. :As .the drum 24 rotates, '=the.:fur which has been .collected on .it is ited zhy'rthe .transferrroll 22 5 to thezpicker. 2.6, and thrown by the .drum 28 through the opening 19 into :the "dome of former .10. .Duringthis'operation the 5618111811175 are in the .zposition .of Fig. 6, the :cone ['3 .;being1r0tate.d,the damper li'Hoeing open and the fur being drawn to and -.dep.osited on ftheqcone by the action of .the suction fan .16. As in this operation no other opening to :the former dome his open, the fur is uniformly deposited on the "rotating cone I3, giving a, hat b'ofcly'of uniform thickness andcondition throughout. Thisfur is fed to' the former during about two thirds :revolution of the drum 24, but the drive "46 is so proportioned that the control disc 4-1ris given a complete revolution, and at the end ofzthisttime the'notch 48 again comes into-alig mentwith the endofthe rod 49, so that the spring 5.8 =.(Fi-g.i2:) is .now free 'to shift the rod .54 to the rightwand operate the lever 5! to .lift the .rod :49 toeseatiits upper end in the notch 48. This :releases thenolutchslilfi from the pulley 3B and stops operation oftthe drum 24. During the time of operation .of drum 24 the apron 26 has been stoppedandthe weigher has placed another batch ofirthe properarnountof fur .for another .hat on this apron. Shifting of .the clutch 51 to the right of Fig. 2 again causes it to engage the pulley afi to -operateqthe apron and feed this additionallbatch of fur through the picker 222 to the drum 24-forzthe next hat formin-goperation.

When the .rod 49 was shifted upwardly, how=- ever itpermitted the-switch B3 to close to start the control .motor 64. This now through the operating cam for this valve on the shaft 69 operates the valve 12 to operate the piston 11,6 to.-shift thersprayer H into-the former through the. opening 118 to theposition of Figs. 1 and-"'7. When it "reaches this position the cam for the valve 82 opens.itstosupply"water'throughitheipipe #4. utc-the-sprayer, =.causing a finespray to "be .ap-

plied to e the hat body :on the rotating cone 113. After the proper amount ofsspray :has ibeenaccemplishedjst-his valveem Quts.-.pfi:the:.s-pray and the valve ;'L2-.then.:operates tocause :the sprayer 1:1 to be -.1dnawn out of :the :former :to its :position of aEig. .6. Then ithe valve .92 ;is operated :by its cam .to operate the piston t8 .t0..1c1nse .theadraft control walve t1 :andccutvoff .the draft. as .shown in .Fig.:*8, and lalsoin :Fig. .1. .Then the control valve v11' sis .-operat.ed by .its cam toeoperate :the piston (i200 :toiswing the hat receiver 99 through the minor opening 410. 4 stoithe position .of Figs. 21 and .58 mnder the .-revolving icone 1.3. .Ehen ;the valveififiis operated :by;its1cam toJcause ablastiof airathrough-theperforated Pipe 94 which loosens the :edge :of zthe .hat body on the cone .113 "so that this .bodyidrops down-v onto the hatreceiver 99,535 indicatedtat 101 '(itisto be understood that aloefore this happens the sprayer 1] is withdrawn from :the position :Within the tormeriindicated .in Fig. .1). 'IEihe cam in xthe control valve 101 then causes the piston llIlfl :to be zshiftedxin the :opposite directi'onypermitting thespring 10.6 (Eig :5) to swing the receiverBQ carrying the hat :body out of the former to :the full.:line position of eEig. 4, closing the door )8 and .ileavin'g :the whole apparatus in conditiomfor a, subsequent hat body forming :operation. 'Thezcontrol zvalve .92 .is'then operated by .its control cam .to .open the draft control I! to'permit the .suction .on 'theformer cone 1.3 to begin vagain,:;and then't'he controllvalve fl'lisioperated-by itscam :to shift the control-rod 419 downwardly :again .and thus cause the whole cycle'to :commence again for'the forming of the next nhat :body. While 'thisznexthat bodyis being formed through this same cycle, the operator may remove the body I01 from the receiver 89, and it maybe given .to whomever is to perform the .succeeding voperations .of shrinking, :and so forth.

.It will be .seen from the above'that :theoperation ofrforming the body is automatic from the feedrapronlllztosthe removalof the formedbody from the erec'eiver 1.99. With this device no 'coner is necessary, and :only..one .cone is used and this is;not.handled;as it remains inthe former, hence there-is :no :cone .:breakage and .no cover is requiredforxthe cone. No tip or side cloths are required :and thereis :no tub or dipper required. There :is :also practically total :elimination of .finger strings, and there is less variationin the lay ofthe fur. on the cone, as thedoors or openings to the former :areall closed rwhenthe fur is being depositedon the cone. vThere are no rolls, as the hat is formed upside-down. Excess water from the sprayer H is caught by the tray or drip pan 8.4 .:so .theresis no accumulation of excess moisturezin the former, and-themachine is also 'mechanically lesscomplicated than those presently employed, and :as the that is handled less there is :less breakage of the hat .bodies. N0 coner is necessaryasthehardener can lift the hat body directlyifrom the hat receiver.

Having .thus set :forth the nature of my in.- vention, 'What :I claim .is:

.1. In ahat forming machine of the character described, a former comprising a hood, an inverted perforated cone in said head, means for rotatingthe. coneabout its axis, a suctionmeans connect'ed'with the interior of the cone, a feeder for :discharging blown 'fur into the hoodtto be deposited onethecone v.loy the suction, an automatic control device including a control'for the suction, a'control .means for controlling operation of the feeder, :andLmeans controlled tby the feeder com trol for controlling the operation of the automatic control device.

2. In a hat forming machine of the character described, a former comprising a hood, an inverted perforated cone suspended in the hood, means for rotating the cone about its axis, a suction means connected with the interior of the cone, a feeder for feeding blown fur into the hood for deposit on the cone, a perforated blast pipe within the upper portion of the cone, means for supplying fluid pressure to said pipe to loosen a formed hat body on the cone so that it will drop therefrom, an automatic control device including a control for each of the suction and the means for supplying fluid pressure to said pipe, means for operating the feeder including a control means, and means controlled by the feeder control for controlling the operation of the automatic control device.

3. In a hat forming machine of the character described, a former comprising a hood, an inverted perforated cone suspended in the hood, means for rotating the cone about its axis, a suction means connected with the interior of the cone, a feeder for feeding blown fur into the hood for deposit on the cone, means for spraying a formed hat body on the cone, a perforated blast pipe within the upper portion of the cone, means for supplying air pressure to said pipe to loosen the hat body on the cone so it will drop from the cone, an automatic control device including a control for each of the suction, the spraying means and the air supply, means for operating the feeder including a control means, and means controlled by the feeder control for controlling the operation of the automatic control device.

4. In a hat forming machine of the character described, a former comprising a hood, an. inverted perforated cone suspended in the hood, means for rotating the cone about its axis, a suction means connected with the interior of the cone, a valve for controlling the suction on the cone, a feeder for feeding blown fur into the hood for deposit on the cone, a sprayer for spraying a formed hat body on the cone and movable to and from a spraying position near the cone, a perforated air discharge pipe in the cone adjacent the upper end thereof in position to loosen the hat body on the cone, control means for each of the valve, the sprayer and the air blast, an automatic 5'1 control for each of said controls arranged to operate them in certain timed relation, means for operating the feeder including a control means, and means controlled by the feeder control for operating the automatic control in certain timed relation with the feeder.

5. In a hat forming machine of the character described, a former comprising a hood, an inverted perforated cone suspended in the hood, means for rotating the cone about its axis, a suction means connected with the interior of the cone, a feeder for feeding blown fur into the hood for deposit on the cone, a perforated blast pipe in the upper part of the cone, means for supplying air under pressure to said blast pipe to loosen a hat body on the cone, a sprayer movable to and from a position adjacent the cone, a receiver for the hat body movable between a position outside the hood to a position in the hood under the cone, an automatic control device, control means operated by said device for each of the suction means, the sprayer, the air blast, the receiver and the operation of the feeder and arranged to operate them in certain timed relation with each other, and means controlled by the feeder control for operating the automatic control device in certain timed relation with the feeder.

6. In a hat forming machine of the character described, a former comprising a hood, an inverted perforated cone suspended in the hood, means for rotating the cone about its axis, a suction means connected with the interior of the cone, a feeder for feeding blown fur into the hood for deposit on the cone, a sprayer movable to and from a position adjacent the cone, means forloosening a formed body on the cone so that it will drop from the gone, a receiver for said body movable between a position outside the hood and a position under said cone to receive the hat body, an automatic control device including a control for each of the suction, the sprayer, the hat body loosening means, the hat receiver and the operation of the feeder, means for operating the feeder, and means controlled by the feeder control for controlling the operation of the automatic control device.

7. In a hat forming machine of the character described, a former comprising a hood, an inverted perforated cone suspended in the hood, means for rotating the cone about its axis, a suction means connected with the interior of the cone, a feeder for feeding blown fur into the hood for deposit on the cone, means for loosening a formed hat body on the cone so that it will drop from the cone, a receiver for said body movable between a position outside the hood and a position under the cone to receive the hat body from the cone, means for operating the reciever, an automatic control device including a control for each of the suction, the hat body loosening means and the receiver operating means, means for operating the feeder, a control means for the feeder operating means, and means controlled by the control for the feeder operating means for controlling the operation of the automatic control device.

8. In a hat forming machine of the character described, a former comprising a hood, an inverted perforated cone suspended in the hood, means for rotating the cone about its axis, a suction means connected with the interior of the cone, a feeder for feeding blown fur into the hood for deposit on the cone, a sprayer movable to and from a position adjacent the cone through an opening in the hood, a closure for said opening, a connection from the sprayer to the closure to automatically shift the closure from the opening as the sprayer moves toward the cone and to shift the closure to the opening as the sprayer.

means for rotating the cone about its axis, a suction means connected with the interior of the cone, a feeder for feeding blown fur into the hood for deposit on the cone, means for loosening a formed hat body on the cone so that it will dropfrom the cone, a receiver for said hat body mov able through an opening in the hood between a position outside the hood and a receiving position under the cone, a closure for said opening, a connection between the receiver and the closure to shift the closure from the opening as the receiver is shifted to the receiving position and to shift the closure to the opening as the receiver is removed from the hood, and means for shifting the receiver between said positions.

10. In a hat forming machine of the character described, a former comprising a hood, an inverted perforated cone suspended in the hood, means for rotating the cone about its axis, a suction means connected with the interior of the cone, a feeder for feeding blown fur into the hood for deposit on the cone, means for loosening a formed hat body on the cone so that it will drop from the cone, a receiver for the hat body movable between a position outside the hood and a. receiving position under the cone, means for operating the receiver, means for controlling the suction, means for operating the feeder, a control means for the feeder operating means, and control means for the suction, the hat body loosening means and the receiver controlled by the feeder control means.

HERBERT F. FITCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 404,459 Yule June 4:, 1389 672 203 Brew et a1. ADI. 16, 1901 2,172,342 Birdsall Sept. 12, 1939 2,207,407 Kane July 9, 1940 

